Adjustable strike



April 30, 1957 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII A. SCHOEPE ADJUSTABLE STRIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VENTOR.

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A. SCHOEPE ADJUSTABLE STRIKE April 30, 1957 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Fire'. JZ.

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Unite States Patent ADJUSTABLE STRIKE Adolf Schoepe, Fullerton, Calif., assigner to Kwikset Locks, Inc., Anaheim, Calif., a corporation of Callforuia Application February 8, 1954, Serial No. 408,653

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-341.18)

This invention relates to an adjustable strike adapted to be mounted in the jamb of a door for engagement by a latch bolt.

The adjustable strike of the invention is characterized by the fact that the anchor and lip plates are provided with interengaging dentate portions, the dentate portions on the anchor plate being formed on integral bosses extending outwardly from the plane of the underside of the anchor plate. The dentate portions on the lip plate are provided on the opposite edges of the slot and are engageable by the dentate portions on the bosses of the anchor plate.

Furthermore, the anchor and lip plates are connected as units through the medium of fastening means provided on the bosses on the anchor plate so that the adjustable strike components are packaged and sold as an operative combination and no assembly thereof in the field is necessary. The fastening means on the bosses is so located that the anchor and lip plates may be separated to an extent sufcient to permit the separation of the dentate portions thereof to facilitate adjustment of the lip plate with respect to the anchor plate.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an adjustable strike consisting of a minimum number of component parts which can be mounted in a door jamb with the same ease as a conventional strike plate and which is both simple in construction and moderate in cost.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an adjustable strike constituted. by an anchor plate and a lip plate which are permanently secured to each other but which can, nevertheless, be adjusted in respect to each other to accommodate mislocation of the edge of the latch bolt receiving opening therein when such mislocation occurs. y

A further object of my invention is the provision of an adjustable strike plate whereby it is lpossible to adjust the edge of the latch bolt "receiving opening by merely releasing the mounting fasteners for thestrike plate to permit lateral movement between the aforementioned anchor and lip plates of the adjustable strike.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an adjustable strike wherein kthe aforementioned anchor plate is bifurcated to define vertically spaced arms, said arms being provided with inwardly extending, integral bosses which have dentate portions thereupon engageable Ywith dentate portions .on the associated lip plate, the engagement of the dentate portions ofthe respective Vplates maintaining said plates in predetermined positions Y of adjustment with respect to each other.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illus tration only and in which:

Fig. 1 is la front elevational view of an embodiment of the adjustable strike of my invention in the orientation in .whichit is disposed when mounted in a door jamb;

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Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the adjustable strike of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the dentate portions of the adjustable strike in disengaged positions;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentray, bottom plan View taken from the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 3 showing the engagement of the dentate portions of the plates constituting the adjustable strike;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the adjustable strike of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the adjustable strike of Fig. 7; v

f Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the broken line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the broken line 10-10 of Fig. 7;

Fig. l1 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the dentate portions of the plates constituting the adjustable strike as separated from each other;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view taken from the broken line 12-12 of Fig. ll; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, top plan view taken from the broken line 13-13 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 146 thereof, I show an adjustable strike 10 which includes an anchor plate 12 and a lip plate 14 which are laterally movable with respect to each other so that adjustment of the strike 10 to accommodate mislocation of the strike in a door jam'o may be accomplished.

The anchor plate 12 is constituted by a bifurcated, substantially rectangular piece of sheet 'metal 16 and has vertically spaced arms 17 and 19 which deline a centrally located recess 21. Countersunk fastener receiving openings 23 are formed in each of the arms 17 and 19 for receiving wood screws 25, or similar fasteners, to maintain the adjustable strike 10 in operative relationship with a door jamb, not shown.

Formed integrally with each of the arms 17 and 19, contiguous to the fastener receiving openings 23, are

Arearwardly extending bosses 26, said bosses being tubular in cross section to deine a bore 27 which receives the shank of the associated wood screw 25. Each of the bosses 26 is provided with an annular, frusto-conical shoulder 2 9 upon opposite sides of which are formed dentate portions 31. The teeth 33 of the dentate portions 31 conform, in plan, substantially to the configuration of an equilateral triangle.

Formed integrallly with the innermost portion of each of the bosses 26 is securement means 35, said securement means being constituted by an integral, substantially radial ange or extrusion 37 which is spaced from the shoulder 29 a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the lip plate 14, for a purpose which will be described in greater detail below. The ends 39 and 41 of the anchor plate arms 17 and 19, respectively, are bent downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, to serve as guide means during relative lateral movement between the anchor plate 12 and the lip plate 14, in a manner `which will be described in greatery detail below. The

varms 43 and 45 which underlie and are registered with the anchor plate arms 17 and 19, respectively. rlfhe arms 43 and 45 dene a centrally located recess 47, the vertical edge 49 of which is engageable by a latch bolt, not

avance? 3 slibwmwhen a door bearingthe latch bolt is closed: The recesses 21 and 47 in the anchor plate 12 and the 11p als@ 1.4l toeethsr define e leigh klfOlt reivnspnemnal. Thewlip' plate4 144 is provided with an inwardly curved lip 5,3which,is fotmed integrally with the Farms. and 45 and which is engageable by an associatedy latch bolt during the closing movement ofa door. f A v h Formed in each' of the' lip plate arms` 43 and `45 is an elongated slot 5,5, the oppositey edges of which are provided with dentate portions 57 constituted by individual teeth 59 of the same configuration as the teeth 33 on the bosses 26 so that the teeth 33 and the teeth 59 may linterengage to locate the lip plate 14 in a' predetermined pos1- tion of adjustment with respect tothe bossesrZ and, more particularly, the anchor plate Y12'. The individual teeth ,59,1 on:theopposite` edges of the slots 55 extend from the u'plier4 to the lower surface of thearmsin which they are formedand are engaged by theteeth 33 on the bosses 26 in the manner graphically shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the .drawings- Formed integrally with the lip 53 is a centrally located, upstruck guide portion 61 upon which the latch bolt engaging the lip 53 is adapted to ride during the closing ofrthedoor in which it is borne. The ends of the anchor plate arms 17 and 19 engage the opposite edges of the guide portion 61 and thus serve to vertically locate the lip plate with respect to the anchor plate during lateral `rtioveniexrt of the plate 14 with respect to the anchor plate 12. n v

Therefore, when it is desired to adjust theadjustable strike prior to theinstallation of the strike in a door jamb, the teeth,59 on the lip plate 14 are disengaged from the teeth 33 von the anchor plate 12 by separating said plates until the separatory movement is terminated by the imping'ement of, the securement means 35on the back of the lip plate 14. The lip plate 1`4 can then be laterally adjusted with respect t the anchor plate 12, the relationship between the anchorV plate .12 andthe lipA plate 14 being maintained by the engagement of the forward ends `3.9 iid 41 of the anchor plate arms 17 ,and 19,with the o'ppos e `edges of the upstruck guide portions 61. When the` desired adjustment of the li'p pl'ate 14 with respect 'to theanchr plate 12 has been accomplished, the teeth 33 'n the anchor plate 12, are engaged with the `teeth S9 on the lip plate 14. The adjustment of the strike can ljthenbe maintained during the installation of the strikeor'i adoor janib while the fastening screws 25 are inserted throughthe bores 27 in the bosses 26.

However, should the adjustable` strike 10 be initially mismou'nted on the jamb, or shiild subsequent misalignmeint between thecdge 49 of the lip plate 14 and an associated latch bolt, occur, the mounting screws can be partially unthreadedfrorn the jamb in which the adjustable strike 10 is mounted. The partial unthreading of the screws 25 will permit the anchor plate 12 tobe moved outwardly, releasing the teeth 33 from engagement with thetee'th 59 and permitting 4the lateral movement of the lipplate 14 to any desired position, such as the dot-dash `line A'position indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. When the proper adjustment of the strike 10 is accomplished, the screw 25 can be driven home onceagainto lock theteeth 33 and.59 in engagement with one another to prevent inadvertent lateral movement of the lip plate 14 with respect to 'the anchor plate 12.` `It should be noted that outward movement of the anchor plate 12 with respect to the lip, plate; 14 is limited during` the adjustment process by theA impingement of the flanges 37 on the underside of' the lip plate 14 to prevent disengagement of the'anchor plate 12 from the lip plate 1'4. `During the lateral movement of the lip plate 14 with respect to AYthe anchor plate 12, the ends of the anchor plate arms lserveto guilde `the lipplate14 bis/.engagement with the opposite edges of thai-guide portion of said lipplate, servingtoprevent verticalrnis location of the lip plate with respect to the anchor plate 4 and thus insuring that the teeth in said plates will register with one another when the screws 25 are driven home.

An alternative embodiment 64 of the adjustable strike of my invention is shown in Figs. 7-13 of the drawings wherein identical reference numerals are utilized to designatc portions of the adjustable strike 64 which have been disclosed in the previously discussed adjustable strike 16. The only significant structural distinction between the adjustable strike 10 and the adjustable strike 64 lies in. the provision of teeth of different configuration on the bosses 26 and the lip plate 14.

The bosses 26 are provided with shoulders 65 which have dentate portions 67 formed on the opposite sides thereof, said dentate portions being provided with teeth 69 which, in plan, have the configuration of truncated isosceles triangles, as best shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. The teeth 69 are adapted to engage in recesses 7l provided Vin the opposite edges of elongated slots 55 formed in the arms 43 andV 45 of the lip plate 14.

It will be noted that the recesses 71, as best shown in Figs. l0 and l1 of the drawings, do not extend cour pletely through the lip plate 14, but terminate inwardly of the back of said lip plate. The teeth 69 engage in thc recesses 71 in the, same manner as the teeth 33 interengage with the teeth 59 in the previously discussed cnibodiment of the invention. However, as will be noted from a close comparison of Figs. 5 and ll of the drawings, the particular configuration of the teeth 69 docs not necessitate as great an outward disengaging movement of the anchor plate with respect to the lip plate, since the shallower depth of the recesses 71 permits the teeth 69 to be disengaged therefrom by a smaller outward movement of the anchor plate 12 than is necessary to accorn plisli the disengagement lof the teeth 33 from the teeth 59, since the teeth 59extend completely through the lip plate and the teeth 33 are fully interrengaged therewith.

I thus provide by my invention an adjustable strike which is characterized byvextreme simplicity of construction and a limited number of component parts which arc permanently, butadjustably, secured to each other. Also characteristic of the invention is the provision of dentate portions on the componentparts of the adjustable strike interengageable with one another to insure against move ment of the component parts 'after adjustment of. said parts with respect to each other has been accomplished.

Also of importance is the provision on the component parts of the adjustable strike of guide means which facilitate the adjustment of the parts of the strike with respect to each other while preserving the alignment of said parts. 4

Of importance also is the fact that the adjustable strike can be adjusted by merely partially unthreading or releasing associated mounting fastenerswithout the necessity for completely dir smounti'n'g 'the strike from a jamb in which it is secured.

I claim as my invention: t

1. In an adjustable strike, the combination of: an anchor plate having acentrally located, latch bolt receiving opening, said Vopening defining a pair of vertically spaced arms having dependinglfastener receiving bosses formed integrally therewith, said boses having dentate shoulders and securement means; and a lip plate having a centrally located opening therein registering with said anchor plate opening, said lip plate openinghdelining a pair of arms underlyingy said anchorplate arm'syand having elongated slots therein for the reception @of said bosses, said` slots having dentate portions engageable by said dentate shoulders and said securement meansfengaging said lip plate arms to permit relative lateral and longitudinal movement between s'ad plates brit prevent complete separation thereof, said securement means being `constituted by a radially4 extending vliangeon 'the lowermost portion of "each `of said bosses.

2. In an `adjustable"strike, thecoinbination of: an anchor plate having a centrally located, latch bolt receiving opening, said opening defining a pair of vertically spaced arms having depending, fastener receiving bosses formed integrally therewith, said bosses having frusto-conical sections provided with dentate portions thereupon and tubular extensions inwardly of said portions having securement means thereupon; and a lip plate having a centrally located opening therein registering with said anchor plate opening, said lip plate opening dening a pair of arms underlying said anchor plate arms and having elongated slots therein for the reception of said bosses, said slots having dentate portions engageable by said dentate portions on said sections and said securement means being disposed inwardly of said lip plate arms to permit relative longitudinal and lateral movement between said plates but prevent complete separation thereof, said lip plate having guide means thereupon engageable by said anchor plate arms to align said plates with each other and said securement means being constituted by a radially extending ange on the innermost end of each of said tubular extensions.

3. In an adjustable strike for the reception of a latch bolt, the combination of: a bifurcated anchor plate, said plate having vertically spacedfarms each of which has an opening therein for the reception of a mounting fastener and an integral boss formed on the back face thereof, each said boss having frusto-conical sections provided with dentate portions thereupon and tubular extensions inwardly of said portions having securement means thereupon; and a bifurcated lip plate whose arms underlie said anchor plate arms and are provided with elongated slots engaged by said dentate portions, said securement means underlying the back of said lip plate to permanently connect said plates but permit relative lateral movement therebetween.

4. In an adjustable strike for the reception of a latch bolt, the combination of: a bfurcated anchor plate, said plate having vertically spaced arms each of which has an opening therein for the reception of a mounting fastener and an integral boss formed on the back face thereof, each said boss having frusto-conical sections provided with dentate portions thereupon and tubular extensions inwardly of said portions having securement means thereupon; and a bifurcated lip plate whose arms underlie said anchor plate arms and are provided with elongated slots engageable by said bosses, said lip plate having a pair of arms underlying said anchor plate arms and having elongated slots therein lfor the reception of said bosses, said slots having dentate portions engageable by said dentate portions on said sections and said securement means being disposed inwardly of said lip plate arms to permit relative longitudinal and lateral movement between said plates but prevent complete separation thereof, said lip plate having guide means thereupon engageable by said anchor plate arms to align said plates with each other and the lengths of said extensions being greater than the thickness of said lip plate to permit said lateral movement of said anchor plate with respect to said lip plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,320 Christy Apr. 21, 1908 1,022,222 Augenbraun Apr. 2, 1912 1,445,681 Hage Feb. 20, 1923 1,458,637 Anderson June 12, 1923 1,614,046 Schmidgall Jan. 11, 1927 2,127,891 Starling Aug. 23, 1938 2,713,506 Wickstrom July 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 688,749 Great Britain Mar. 11, 1953 

